on the study “World Heritage Site The Old City of Jerusalem with its City Walls” within the research group “Knowledge of the World – Heritage of Mankind: The History of UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage”.

The research group is situated at the Leibniz Institute of European History and funded by the LeibnizGemeinschaft (Leibniz Association). It investigates for the first time the genesis of UNESCO World Heritage after the Second World War on the basis of historical sources. The project combines the global dimensions with the national and local contexts. The project consists of a longitudinal postdoctoral study focusing on the emergence of the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage as well as the accession procedure from 1972 to 1994 and four doctoral studies which deal with sites which have had a specific effect on the World Heritage programme since its beginnings in the 1970s and 1980s: the Galápagos Islands, Aachen Cathedral, Auschwitz Concentration Camp and the Old City and City Walls of Jerusalem. The successful applicant is expected to contribute to these objectives in close collaboration with the other colleagues in the research project.

The PhD project: The Old City of Jerusalem with its City Walls was entered on the World Heritage List as the Holy City of the three monotheistic world religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is therefore also a representation of the three religions which have had the most enduring effect on European history. Additionally, it is a crystallization point of the cultural dimension of the Middle East conflict in that the Old City of Jerusalem constitutes an exception on the World Heritage List. World Heritage sites may only be nominated by the states on whose territory they are located. However, Jordan proposed the inclusion of Jerusalem in 1980, even though the city had been controlled by Israel since the Six Day War of 1967. In UNESCO, Jerusalem developed into a political issue which remains current to this day. This process and the related conflicts between belief systems, value systems and knowledge systems will be at the centre of this subproject. Attention must also be paid to the living circumstances in the World Heritage site. What position do the various population groups take in relation to the World Heritage status?

Applicants must hold a Master degree in history or related subjects. Successful applicantswill be expected to be in residence at Mainz (Germany) and participate in IEG activities and events. They will hold a part-time position at IEG and have access to travel funds. The salary is commensurate with TV-L EG 13 (65%).The appointment will start on 1 July 2013, and is awarded for 3 years.

Applications must include a CV, academic transcripts and a short statement of research interests (not more than one page). As an independent research institute the IEG does not confer academic degrees. PhD-theses are supervised at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz or at a university of the candidate’s choice. The international academic advisory board of the research group will provide assistance.

Complete applications are to be submitted electronically via email (all documents in one pdf) by February 28, 2013, with the code number “2013-UNESCO-Jerusalem” to the following address

IEG is an equal opportunity/affirmative-action employer. In case of equality of qualification and suitability of applicants, the applications made by female researchers will be given preferential consideration. We also encourage applications from disabled persons.